MISSIONS IN FIJI

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 26

MISSIONS IN FIJI

REPORT BY THE SECRETARY OF METHODIST MISSIONS. THE BIBLE-BURNING INCIDENT. MELBOURNE, March 5. The Methodist Conference adopted a resolution condemning the Bible-burning as an atrocious act and a deliberate insult offered not only to the people of I1I 1 iji, but to a world-wide Protestantism. SYDNEY, March 3. The Rev. Mr Brown, general secretary of the missions, made a lengthy statement with regard to church affairs in Fiji. He said that amongst the chief points for consideration were the aggressive character 'and work of the Roman Catholic Bishop and missionaries and tbe Seventh Day Adventists, the large and ever-increasing influx of Indians, -and the political unrest amongst the natives caused in a great measure the agitation in fayouc of federation with New Zealand. There was a desire for more self-government by the people,' and there was a growing desire in the minds of Fijians for higher education. Another grievance was the poll tax. Did the conference wonder that some of them felt strongly on that matter and wanted to bring it to the attention of the Fijian authorities, or, if necessary, to the notice of the British House of Commons ? His opinion was that as at present levied it was a cruel injustice. He appealed for an increase of the missionary staff amongsb the Indians. During the discussion the Rev. Mr Carruthers asked if it was a fact that on the occasion of the swearing-in of the Governor the Catholic bishop was given the first place at the function, while the Wesleyan chairman, who virtually is Bishop of Fiji, was relegated to an inferior position. T&e Rev. Mr Brown replied that it did occur. March 7. The Methodist Conference have decided to co-operate with the Evangelical Council in asking the Imperial authorities to appoint a commission to inquire into Cardinal Moran's Samoan charges generally, and also to make separate representations in regard to the Cardinal's statements having reference to Wesleyan missionaries. March 9. Cardinal Moran states that he had re- . ceived a letter from Bishop Vidai which denies that a missionary or sisters presided over the Bible-burning. ADELAIDE, March 7. i'he Methodist Conference adopted a resolution expressing indignation at the Bible-burning in Fiji. BRISBANE, March 4. j

The Methodist Conference mission meeting adopted a resolution regarding the Bible-burning at Fiji, expressing indignation and apprehension that the act would tend to revive; the worst spirit of ecclesiastical antagonism on the part of i lie Roman Catholic Church, and produce disastrous results amongst Fijians. March 5.

Fijian files, brought by the Miowera, contain lengthy accounts of the Bibleburning. The first reference to the incident appeared in the Western Pacific Herald of February 13, wherein it was .stated that some months previously practically the whole of the Fijian inhabitants of the province of Namosi, hitherto professed Wesleyans, had turned Roman Catholics. This caused no little excitement amongst the people, and various reasons were given for the occurrence. The Herald added : " The matter advanced another stage yesterday when, so we are informed on reliable authority, some 238 Bibles, belonging to Namosi people, were pub'icly burned at the Catholic Mission Station at Naililili."

The next issue of the Herald contained a letter from Father Rorgier, declaring that both the fact and the statement as regards tli3 burning were false, and he goes on to say : " From inquiry I feel certain you have been misled by some malicious ill-wishing "individual." On Februai-y 21 the Suva Times published a letter signed Rev. W. A. Burns, Wesleyan Missionary, traversing Father Rongier's denial. The Rev. Mr Bums ! gees on to say : " There are so many reputable witnesses with so much substantial corroboration that one might calmly invite all the risk of a law suit upon the evidence " ; and he adds :" I fearlessly assert that, except for the number said to have been burned, the statement in tho Herald is perfectly correct."

In his letter to the Suva Times the Rev. Mr Burns gives a circumstantial account of the burning supplied by eye witnesses, according to whom two or more cases of books, mostly, if not all, Bibles and Methodist hymn books in the Fijian tongue, were burned in a limekiln specially erected for the occasion in the grounds of the Catholic Mission Station. The work of tearing them up and inserting them in the kiln was done by native girls at the station, supervised by two E\u;oj?ean sisters. The Rev. Mr Burns

declares that he knows that more than 20 adult spectators, besides a large num- . her of school children, old and intelligent enough to be competent witnesses, were present.

In answer to the Rev. Mr Burns's letter, Father Rongier wrote to the Fiji Times, saying that tho first intimation lie had of the burning was the Herald's announcement. Upon making inquiry, he fouud that, following the practice of the Catholic Church and the strict injunctions lnkl down in its rubrics, whichi j ordain that all material of a sacred character appertaining to church worship, including Bibles and prayer books, when worn out, be destroyed by fire, the j Catholic sisters at Naililili, assisted by a few pupils, had, as they did periodically, burned in a biscuit tin soma i useless Catholic books and church' | material, and in a kerosene tin soiled^ useless Wesleyan Testaments and hymn books. Father Rongier asserts that the sisters were not actuated by any hostile feelings or by a spirit of wanton destruction. , The lettervto the .Fiji Times from the • Rev. Mr Burns shows tha<j:the cha'irmart : of the, Wesleyan Mission wjote'to Father 1 Rongier, prior to the . publication of. the Rev. Mr Burns's first letter, asking- if, the- Herald's statement's as to the burn|,ing'was correct. ' Father Rongier failed , to reply. • I ' The passengers by the Miowera " state that when the steamer left Suva excitement was still high.

March 6.

Father Rongier has a letter in the press, in the course of which he asks the Rev. iur Burns, if the case were reversed, and he became possessed of a ' quantity of Catholic Testaments and hymn books, all battered, torn, soiled, worn, and no longer acceptable to any* one, what would he do with them. ' -He • adds that, "so far as we Catholics are concerned, we would feel deeply indebted to him if he quietly committed them to the flames, and saved them from the risk of being used 'for viler purposes."